JTRS applications to DoD programs: technology and implementation

(U) This paper summarizes advancements and lessons learned in the application of the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Software Communications Architecture (SCA) to software radios, wireless networks and wideband waveforms. It provides a brief overview of the SCA and its application to emerging radio systems. It provides insight into implementation issues in the development of programmable radios and discusses applicability, above 2 GHz and at high data rates required by future networked systems. Specific areas are discussed that are critical in the development of deployable systems and include: (1) processor loads required to implement both low latency networked systems and legacy waveforms;.(2) National Security Agency (NSA) verification of a SCA-compliant radio; (3) boot-up time; (4) portability of firmware for waveforms implemented in field programmable gate arrays; and lastly (5) a waveform description language is described that is being developed to address firmware portability in SCA and non-SCA programmable radios.